Uber Cup 2024 quarterfinals, Highlights: Isharani, Ashmita go down fighting; Japan win the tie 3-0

India have taken a big call to go with Kiran George instead of Srikanth Kidambi (or Priyanshu Rajawat) for MS3. Rest of the lineup same as yesterday

Ashmita Chaliha reflects: “I had lost to her pretty badly in Syed Modi international and I came into the match with a mindset that I have to play my best… In the third game, so made some silly errors after 11-9 and that cost me the match.”

WS1: Aya Ohori 21-10 20-22 21-15 Ashmita Chaliha
WD1: Nami Matsuyama - Chiharu Shida 21-8 21-9 Priya Konjengbam - Shruti Mishra
WS2: Nozomi Okuhara 21-15 21-12 Isharani Baruah

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WD2: Rena Miyaura - Ayako Sakuramoto vs Simran Singhi - Ritika Thaker
WS3: Tomoka Miyazaki vs Tanvi Sharma

So that's the end of India's Uber Cup campaign. Wins against Canada and Singapore, defeats against China and Japan. A marker of the difference between them and the elite level but also enough signs that this young squad has a bright future if nurtured well. 

Match & Tie, Japan: Nozomi Okuhara comes through with a straight-games win as Isharani Baruah's solid fight eventually fizzles out. Japan are through to the semifinals. India's run at the Uber Cup is over. 

Longest rally, 33 shots! But again, this is what Isharani will have to understand about playing at this level. After a diving retrieval she looked completely knackered as she went for the next shot that she missed. 

There were occasions when a frustrated Okuhara was seen muttering to herself but she has been once again taken control. And Okuhara is naiing the challenges too now, two good reviews from her.  

A run of SEVEN straight points for Okuhara either side of the interval comes to an end finally. Can Isha go on a run of her own? 

Isharani is once again finding out that moments of brilliance at this level won't matter much if not for consistency. She has played so well but Okuhara ultimately takes a 4 point lead into the interval on a run of four straight points. 

#Chengdu2024 #ThomasUberCupFinals

Isharani Baruah with two wonderful diving retrievals before forcing the error from Nozomi Okuhara to win the point. Isharani's role model Akane Yamaguchi is watching on from close quarters. Hope she was impressed! ??https://t.co/X8xxyJDE9U pic.twitter.com/3gGwah6YzY

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) May 2, 2024

There was a crosscourt winner, drop shot, from Isharani earlier in the game when Okuhara just looked up to the roof, almost as if wondering how did this happen. That good. Now the Indian plays a lovely crosscourt backhand net shot winner. 

Oh super anticipation from Isharani to rush to the net and put away a kill shot. Another really good start to the game by the Indian. 

Game 1, Nozomi Okuhara: That escalated a bit quickly in the end. Five game points for Okuhara and she needs just one as Isharani sends one of her jump smashes wide. But for larger parts of that opening game, a really good fight from Isharani Baruah who was up 14-11. Okuhara won 10 of the next 11 points. 

Some wonderful defending by Isharani in that rally (Akane will be proud of that dive) but Okuhara is in control of that point and wins it eventually. 

A good challenge by Okuhara this time for the 2-point lead. Isharani's jump smash to the rescue next rally as the Indian makes the gap 1 point. 

And now Okuhara is finding her rhythm. She is starting to dictate the tempo, increasing the pace, and making Isharani work harder for the points. Into the lead, the Japanese superstar. 

Smiles all around as Isharani's winner at the sideline is called in, Okuhara challenges it very late, but Hawkeye shows the shuttle to be in by the barest of margins. What a lovely start from Isha here.

Perhaps a little bit of unknown for Okuhara. But still, what a lovely start from Isharani. Okuhara trying to play the patient game that she is known for but the Indian has kept up a lovely attacking tempo. But now expect Okuhara to turn up the dial, Isharani's tactical ability will be tested. 

Great speed across the court from Isharani, moving corner to corner very well and not letting the shot quality drop. Okuhara's radar not quite firing yet. 

Really solid start from the Indian here! "Ishaaaa... Isharani Baruah!" is the chant for this match by the way. 

Speaking of Okuhara's 2017 world championship title.. what a match was in Glasgow against Sindhu! 

PV Sindhu knew Nozomi Okuhara was going to make her run. She was prepared if that could’ve fetched her the World Championship gold. No one will fault her for falling short – for India’s most successful shuttler, an exemplary competitor, ran harder than ever, picked some absurdly difficult returns at the net and made it difficult for Nozomi Okuhara to become the World Champion. But at the end of the 19-21, 22-20, 20-22 scoreline that went against her, Sindhu ended with a silver and there was nothing to be said beyond.

Isharani Baruah has made a good impression in Chengdu so far. She is a Yamaguchi fan so this will be an interesting clash against Okuhara. Can she give this a good fight? First meeting on tour of course. Okuhara, the 2017 world champion, is world No 17 now. She heartbreakingly missed out on a place at Paris 2024 with Ohori finishing above her. 

Isharani Baruah, with a jump smash in the Akane Yamaguchi mould, is pure joy to watch

For Isharani, the crazyball who dives and bounces about the court with energy, a la Akane Yamaguchi, this Uber Cup might be the rare international top flight sighting of the jump smash – before it gets nuanced, tempered and disciplined. Though you hope it doesn’t altogether disappear.

Former Olympian Dipankar Bhattacharjee from Assam, is widely considered to have started the jump smash trend. But in women’s singles, the enigmatic Krishna Dekaraja, while she still competed just before Saina Nehwal arrived on the scene, can be said to have brought the power game and smashes into the WS mix. But even she didn’t jump, just naturally torqued her shoulder and back for the big hit. Ashmita and Isharani, having watched Yamaguchi do it so often, grew up playing the jump smash full-throttle.

Japan take 2-0 lead: The result didn't really look to be in any doubt from the word go. Gulf in class. But the Indians can take some heart from how they played in the 2nd game. 

The scoreline might not show it, but the second game has been a little closer as a contest. Many more rallies, the Indians putting in good work on defence. Alas, not enough in their arsenal to find winners. 

A flash in the pan, that rally. Shida too has recovered enough and it is back to being one-way traffic. 

SUPER POINT! At the end of this match, Priya and Shruti can cut a clipping of that rally after the interval and watch it on loop. 38 shots in that rally, longest of the match so far. Great rotation between the Indians before Shruti plays a really good winner at the net. Shida might have hurt herself with a dive. 

Well-oiled machines, are MatsuShida. Gopichand and Manu Attri take the full break to give their coaching advice but really, this is as good as over as a contest. 

That point is everything you need to know about this pair and Japanese women's doubles in general. The Indians huff and puff but cannot break the defence. 

Oh tame end to a fine rally. 28 shots is the longest so far (not very long at all by WD standards) but the Indians do well to engage before a misjudgement from Shruti at the back court.

Game 1, MatsuShida: After that mini run of 2 points, the Indians just managed one more. A canter for the world No 4 pair in the opening game. Not much joy for the Indians. 

Mostly one-way traffic here but a nice backhand winner from Priya after a good rally. Another long rally follows, and the Indians do well to stay in it before Shida makes the error. 

No surprise in this script so far. 'Easy point ek bhi nahi aayega,' says Sumeeth Reddy during the coaching break. Indeed so. 

Good start by the Japanese but Shruti makes her presence felt early with a nice crosscourt smash winner. 

Nami Matsuyama – Chiharu Shida vs Priya Konjengbam – Shruti Mishra. World No 4 vs World No 67. MatsuShida heavy favourites in this one but the Indians perhaps have a small edge in being the unknown entity. But it will take an almighty effort to break the Japanese defence consistently. 

Shivani Naik: Ohori power & Ashmita errors combine for a tame finish for the Indian. The body attacks didn't relent, but it was essentially Ohori staying precise while pulling away for the 67-minute win

JAPAN TAKE THE LEAD: More relief than joy for Ohori in the end as she overcomes a mid-match blip to take the match. Ashmita was red-hot at the start of the decider to go up 8-2 but that's where it started unravelling as Aya found a second wind 

Indeed match points now for Aya Ohori, lovely backhand touch at the net. 

Both players bent double! Aya Ohori with a superb defensive point, has the kill for the taking in the end but misses the sideline. A lucky break there for Ashmita. Should have been match points. 

Aya Ohori's radar is on point at the moment. She is finding the corners superbly. And Ashmita's errors haven't helped. 

Big roar from Ohori as she nails a down-the-line smash to Ashmita's forehand side. 

Much needed couple of points for Ashmita, was starting to get away from her. 

Ohori seems fatigued for sure but she is pumping herself and adrenaline is carrying her through here. Very handy lead! 

Is that a turning point? A well-constructed rally from Ohori floors Ashmita. Another good exchange follows, and there is an error from Ashmita. Ohori into the lead! By two now as another crosscourt goes wide from the India. Super turnaround from Ohori from 2-8 down at one stage. 

#Chengdu2024 #ThomasUberCupFinals

When in Chengdu, find yourself a panda. Ashmita Chaliha has a nice little souvenir on her kit bag it seems ?https://t.co/X8xxyJDE9U pic.twitter.com/ThcRXfOyCn

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) May 2, 2024

Shivani Naik: Ashmita's taking the shuttle higher, that's essentially been the turning point. She always had the whip on her overheads, but against all Japanese, striking the shuttle at a higher point unfailingly helps

Ashmita has arrested the momentum for now. A brilliant body smash to floor Ohori and sneak back into the lead. And make that 2 points as Ashmita takes a lead into the change of ends. The near side was good for Ashmita in Game 2 too, she has a real chance here! 

That review from Ashmita at 7-8 makes up for the laser-accurate one she made in Game 2! So far out. And from 2-8 down, Ohori has come storming back to level things up! 

Momentum shifting back towards Aya Ohori again. She has found her attacking rhythm again. 

Ashmita had a chance to kill off another point but a super defensive retrieval from Ohori catches her out. A break in play as Aya asks for medical assistance but not sure if there was any work done there. Looks like taping issue perhaps. 

Ohori is repeatedly cutting a frustrated figure at the moment. Constant puffs of the cheeks who played a marathon match in the tie against Indonesia. Ashmita is red-hot at the moment! What a run of points, another super crosscourt winner. 

Shivani Naik: What do we have here? Ashmita gets three points in a row at clutch to push a decider. That was quite brill

GAME 2, ASHMITA CHALIHA! It is that shot to Ohori's backhand that has delivered so many crucial points in this game for Ashmita! She punches her fist and the chanting continues from her young teammates. "It's my life" plays on the stadium speakers. Ashmita's life is suddenly looking not all that bad. 

More good attacking from Ashmita and she has a game point now! 

Shivani Naik: Ashmita has done very well here to snap at Ohori heels. She gets a very good shuttle in for 19-18. Not sure it was merely "lucky". I guess even her inconsistency is not consistent. But can she close out?

All out attack from Ashmita. Back-to-back smashes to save the match point! 

Oh wow, what a punch-clear from Ohori with the drift too most likely! The shuttle lands in. Match point Aya. 

Ohori's smash to Ashmita's forehand sets up a good point. All level again! 

Ashmita is not going away here! Good sting in her forehand smash and Ohori's backhand into the net. And then comes a massive slice of fortune at the net for Ashmita, a lift is straight into the net but goes up and comes over to leave Ohori stranded. 

Wow twice in two points Ashmita catches the sidelines. First, her review is good. Next, Ohori's review is futile. Another lead for the Indian.

#Chengdu2024 #ThomasUberCupFinals

As far as Hawkeye challenges go, that is one heck of a referral from Ashmita Chaliha! ?https://t.co/X8xxyJDE9U pic.twitter.com/5URMHNv4Nx

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) May 2, 2024